Changeable sign



June 9,- 1931. J, GEORGE 1,809,332

CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed sept. 29, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 9,-A 1931. J. GEORGE 1,809,332

CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed Sept. 29. 1950 2 sheets-Sheet 2 SOLI' www woz/nog;

Patented June 9, 1931 PATENT OFFICE y JOSEPH GEORGE, F WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA crmnernmsnn4 srefn'V vApplication medseptember 29, 1930. serial No. 485,174.

This invention relates to a changeable sign designed primarily for window display puroses.

One of the objects of the invention. is to i provide a sign simulating an airship and utilizing a fan'which not only has the appearvance of the propellor of an airship, but also while in motion, sets up a circulation of air within the show window so as to prevent the Y v formation of frost on the window and render the sign visibleat all times topersons outside of the window. A

y Another obj ect is to provide a sign having movably supported sign holders adapted to be brought successively to view within windows provided therefor.

A still further object is to provide a'structure'of this character which utilizes an ordinary electric fan the motor of which serves to operate the several working parts.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructions hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

. In the accompanying drawings the Y pre-f y ferred form of the invention has been shown.y

In said drawings- Y Figure 1 is a view partly inside elevation and partly in section showing the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of one of the changeable sign units.

'40 Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevation of another unit ofk the sign.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6, Figure 5. Figure 7 is a view moreor less in diagram showing the sign suspended in a show case and operating to maintain air currents whereby frosting of the window is prevented.

Referring to the gures by characters of reference, l designates the casing of the sign which is in the form of a shell shaped to simulate the body yof an airship. This body is provided with spaced windows2 and 3` and arranged within one endportionlof the body is the motor ,4 ofI an ordinary electric fan the blades of which have been indicatedat 5. The motor is of that type 'having speed reduction gearing in a'housing 'whereby a shaft'? is driven at vgreatlyreduced., speed. yIn many types of fans this shaft, which rotates at'slowl speed, is usedfor causing the fan to swing Vfrom side tov side.` In the present instance, however, the motor and other pcrtonsof the fan structure are held against swinging and the shaft 7 instead of being utilized for pro! ducingk a slow lateral swinging of ther parts,

v'is provided with a pulley 8'.

Erected in the casing 1 areparallelshafts 9 and 10. rFhe shafts areprovided with pulleys 11 arranged in pairs and mounted on the pulleys are endless belts 12 and 13. The winf dow 3 isarrangedfbetween the shafts 9 and 10 and in front of the belts.

.Interposedbetween the shafts 9 and 10 y an intermediate shaft 14 vrhaving a pulley 15 adapted Yto receive motion througha belt 16 from the pulley 8'.. Another pulley 17y is secured to shaft `114 and transmits motionL through a belt18to a pulley 19 on vshaft 9.'

' Suspended from the'belt 12 Visfaseries of boXes V2O, each'of which has one or more spring clips 21 for detachab-ly engaging belt 12and supporting the boxes.

Arranged in each of theboXes 2O is a display card 22 on which an advertisement canv appear, this card being disposed in an inclined position as shown so as to be easily seen and read by; a' person looking through the window 3. All of theboxes 20-can belocated as close together as desired, and the clips 21 are so proportioned thatthey lcan travel within the grooved peripheries of the pulleys 11. f

Arranged in the rear end portion of casing lisa longitudinal shaft 23 having a pulley 24 adapted to receive motion through an endless belt 25 from a pulley 26 on theshaft 10.

Suitably located guide pulleys 27 can be provided for the belt 25. f Y

Secured to shaft 23 are spaced disks 28 connected by radial blades 29. Pivotally mounted in the angles formed by these blades are panels 30 adapted to swing freely. Each panel carries on. the two sides thereof any suitable advertising or other display matter. Each panel is also provided on its two sides with cushioning buttons 8l of rubber or the like.

It is designed to arrange the parts so that during the rotation of shaft 23 the panels 30 will be brought forwardly in upstanding positions successively as shown in Figure 4 so as to expose one face of each panel through window 2. After the panel is moved past a dead center it will drop downwardly onto the blade 29 thereunder and ultimately be brought to a hanging position as shown at the bottom of Figure thereby to expose the display matter on the other side of the panel.

The various belts and pulleys constitute speed reductiongearingso that the signs will move slowly and simultaneously.

If desired a supplemental display device or ornament indicated generally at 32 can be arranged above the casing 1 and mounted on shaft 14A so as to rotate therewith..

The entire structure is adaptedto be suspended in a show case or window by means of wires 33 or the like and ywhen the electric motor `is; set in loperation the blades 5 will act to set up strong air currents which will prevent the formation of frost on the windows WV. Consequently persons looking through the windows can readily see the sign and the changeable display matter carried thereby.

Whatis claimed is:

l. A changeable sign including a casing, an electric fan in one end portion thereof includinga motor, a slow speedshaft, and a fan, there being a window in the casing, mechanism within the casing for bringing different signs successively into position for exposure through the window, and means for transmitting motion to said mechanism from the slow speed shaft.

2. Av changeable sign including a casing having a window, mechanism movably mounted in the casing for displaying different signs successively through the Window, mechanism carried by the casing for setting up a circulation of air around the casing, and means driven by said mechanism for actuating the sign displaying mechanism positively and at a reduced speed. n

3. A changeable signl including a casing, saidcasing having a window, mechanism in the casing for displaying signs successively through the window, and means carried by the casing for setting up a circulation of air there around and for actuating said mechanism, said means including an electric fan including bladesV supported outside ofthe casing, and a slow speed shaft supported within the casing, said shaft being operatively connected to the mechanism.

vblades of the fan constituting means for maintaining a circulation of air outside of the window to prevent formation of frost on a transparent container in whichthe sign is located.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have heretoafiXed my signature.

JOSEPH GEORGE. 

